Seasoned Chef Tim Hunt Talks Cooking for Politicians, Celebrities, and Taking Over at East Hotel
After years of serving up dishes for various superstars, Chef Tim Hunt is now bringing his talents to the masses at East, Beijing Hotel.
The British chef certainly has big shoes to fill, taking over for his old pal Rob Cunningham after the beloved Australian kitchen master left the job earlier last year. However, Hunt is more than up to the task, explaining: “Basically I have known East since the preopening period, as I was good friend with Rob and also very good friends with Liu Kai, who was the old executive sous chef and a childhood friend of my wife’s. I was able to give my two cents to Rob and Kai during the preopening periods, so I felt like I was a part of the hotel from the beginning.”
Even without those old ties to East, Hunt’s storied culinary career would more than prepare him for the job. His prior include China Star Film Catering, the Westin, a simultaneous stay at the Le Royal Meridien Shanghai and the Mercedes Benz Arena, followed by a period at the Sheraton Sanya Resort Hainan before arriving at East earlier this past summer.
Among the celebrities that have sampled Hunt's tasty fare was none other than legendary director Quentin Tarrantino, whose film crew hired China Film Star Catering to serve up dishes while they filmed the hit action flick Kill Bill in China.
"Quentin was a very cool guy," Hunt says of the popular director. "He wouldn't talk to you as if he was on some higher level, he was very accepting of everyone. Every Friday we'd all have a big dinner and party together to celebrate the end of the week's shooting, and before that I got to see many scenes filmed, like when Uma fights in that crazy bloody bar scene."
Hunt partook in an equally star studded, but all the more stressful affair, ahead of the 2008 Summer Olympics, as he helped prepare to accommodate then American President George W. Bush and his delegation.
And now that Hunt has returned to the capital, he’s eager to have equally memorable experiences at East. “Beijing to me is like my home in China, and I am very proud to be back in the city that I love, and very proud to take over the helm here from Rob. Now it’s time to take this hotel’s restaurant to the next level.”
This article originally appeared in the January/February issue of the Beijinger, which you can read here via Issuu, via the PDF here, or in hard copy at all of your favorite venues across town.
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Email: kylemullin@truerun.com
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Photo: East Hotel
